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Short takes: Metro school extends its reach

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Tuesday April 16, 2013 5:33 AM

A plan to expand Metro Early College High School to include middle-school grades comports with a
key idea in how to make better schools available to more kids: Take what works and do more of
it.

Since it opened in 2006, Metro — a partnership of Battelle, Ohio State University and a
consortium of Franklin County districts — has been a resounding success. Accepting not necessarily
the highest-scoring students, but choosing via lottery from among those who demonstrate through
essay and interview that they are passionate about the STEM disciplines — science, technology,
engineering and math — Metro sends its graduates on to promising futures at colleges and in
careers.

Metro recently became an independent school with a state subsidy and the ability to seek grants
and raise funds privately.

In keeping with the goal of creating more Ohio graduates proficient in the STEM fields, students
accepted to Metro pay no tuition.

Adding the sixth through eighth grades will allow promising students the chance to benefit
earlier from Metro’s “mastery” approach — allowing students to move on to higher-level coursework
as soon as they’re ready for it, regardless of their age and grade level.

For next fall, 263 students have applied for the 128 spots that will be available in the
freshman class. The middle-school grades will make a Metro education possible for hundreds
more.

Here’s hoping Metro’s continued success will lead to more available spots in all grades.

Reynoldsburg schools are tourist destination

Reynoldsburg has become the Big Tomato in school success. Academic tourists are flocking to the
district’s schools to learn about its innovative educational programs in the hope of emulating
them.

Groups this year have come from as far away as Finland. The Alabama Department of Education is
sponsoring a tour for a group of 10 in May. And demand is so strong that the district is now
booking tours into next school year.

The draw is a desire to replicate Reynoldsburg’s success; more than a third of its students live
in poverty, yet this district maintains and “excellent with distinction” rating that meets 26 out
of 26 standards on the Ohio school report card.

This district proves that the secret to teaching every child is no secret at all. Reynoldsburg
does it with old-fashioned cooperation; employee unions are partners in change, not
obstructionists.

And with a single-minded focus on learning that funnels resources into the classroom; the
central office is lean on administration.

And with creativity; the high school is pioneering programs with intensive academic focus that
blend classroom learning with real-world experiences. There is a heavy emphasis on science,
technology, engineering and math.

For decades, Reynoldsburg has boasted that it is the “birthplace of the commercial tomato.”

It is an even sweeter accomplishment, however, to be recognized as providing children with a
top-notch 21 {+s}{+t} century education.